Extracting Metals Using Carbon Flashcards
Where are most metals extracted from?
Most metals are extracted from ores found in the Earth’s crust
In what form are unreactive metals found in?
Unreactive metals are found in the Earth’s crust as the uncombined elements
(e.g. silver, gold)
How can a metal be extracted from its ore?
A metal can be extracted from its ore by reduction using carbon
(AKA heating with carbon)
What happens to an ore when it is reduced with carbon?
Oxygen is removed from it
(as shown by the ore of iron oxide here)
How are metals that are higher than carbon in the reactivity series extracted?
They are extracted using electrolysis, which is very expensive
Metals below carbon in the reactivity series are extracted by reduction using carbon.
Explain why this is.
This is because carbon only takes oxygen away from the metals that are less reactive than carbon itself
(Exam-style question)
(Exam-style question)
